Apparatus for distilling decomposable materials



Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,824

w. K. LEWIS APPARATUS FOR DISTILLING DEGOMPOSABLE MATERIALS Filed Nov.10, 1922 l2 l4 WARREN K. LEWLS l'OtIlu Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STAT as PA ENT OFFICE. 1

WARREN K. LEWIS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO lEUKBIiE OIL & BE

FINING COMPANY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A. CORPORATION OE'IEXAS.

hummus roa msrrmme "nncomrosantn MATERIALS.

Application filed November 10, 1922. Serial No. 599,963-

The present invention relates to the art of distillation and will befully understood from-the following description taken in com nectionwith the accompanying drawing, in

5 which Fig. 1 represents in vertical section one form of apparatuscontemplated in the invention, and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are similar viewsof modifications.

In the distillation of many materials, there is a comparatively largeamount of refluxing into the still, even when the vapor line from thestill to the .condenser is-covered with heat-insulation of the bestattainable types. With such refluxing thereresults not only 16 a loss inefliciency to the extent that the initial work of vaporization is undoneand must be repeated but'there is an increased decomposition of materialneedlessly returned andsubjected to heating. .And where lubricating oilsfor example, are the material being distilled, such decomposition orcracking lowers the viscosity and flash point. I I 1 Inproceeding inaccordance with the present invention, tglfnerally speaking I provide apath for e vapors which is guarded against substantial temperature dropup to the zone where it is intended that condensations'occur. One formof apparatus that may be advantageously used particularly where aplication of a vacuum is also desired, is s own in Fig. 1, the vaporizingreceptaclehere being a vertical cylindrical shell 1 mounted over asuitable heater chamher 2. A vapor passage 1' preferably of.substantially unrestricted cross section, in accordance with the,co-pending application of Warren K. Lewis and Nathaniel E. Loomis, Ser.No. 609872 extehds about the containing a cooling coil 9 with inlet andoutlet for. the circulating fluid, a drip deflector l0'and a collectingpan 11 connecting with a pipe leading to a suitable receiver (not shown,for simplification). From the condenser a pipe 12 leads, if necessary,through an auxiliary condenser 13, to a vacuum-pump and gas-holderaccording as may be required by the material being distilled. Theauxiliary condenser 13 has connections l4, 15 for cooling liquid, andthe pipe 16 has a drain 1? below leading to any suitable tank.

A perforated pipe l in the bottom of the vaporizing receptacleprovidesan inlet for .feed and discharge p1 shown in Fig: 1, by suitablygrading 'peratures at the cooling coil 9, and in, the

receptacle to a condenser zone in the latter steam or a gas when suchmay .be desired inconnection with the distillation; and, suitable forthe still may es be arranged as required The lower portion "ofthevaporizing receptacle, that is va or passage 1, is enclosed up to thecondensing zone in achamber 3 connecting with the heater chamber 2,'such arrangement constituting a thermal jacket maintaining the vaporssubstantially uncooled until they reach the condensing zone.

In 0 eration the vapors distilled pass up throng the thermallyprotected, jacketed zone and substantially uncooled are intro-' ducedinto the zone where provision is made for reducing their temperature anddrawing off thecondensate formed. Where steam has been used this willpreferably be difi'erentially condensed. In' the arrangement thetemauxiliary condenser 13, the oil or the like is caught by the maincondenser and the steam. by auxiliary condenser 13. Reduced pressure orvacuum may be used either with the steam or separately.

In themodification shown in. Fig. 2 the vaporizing receptacle is acylindrical shell 27 horizontally mounted over a heater 28' and havingchambers 29 in communication with the heater chamber and extending upover the sides to form thermal jackets to the condenser zone containinga cooling coil 30 and a collecting pan 32 for directing the condensateto a suitable receiver. v In the form illustrated in Fig. 3 the vapor'izing-receptacle is a cylindrical shell 18 horizontally mounted over aheater and the vapor connection 20 leading to the condenser 21 isenclosed in a chamber 22 which is in communication with the heaterchamber and arranged as a thermal protective or equilib rium jacket.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 4, shows another embodiment of theinvention, in which the va or connection 40 is enclosed in a jacketd?naving inlet and outlet connections 4A and 45 for a liquid of suitabletemperature, and the vaporizing receptacle may be heated by the internalcoil 46 or by the furnace as desired.

in these constructions condensation is guarded against from the liquidsurface up to a predetermined oint where it can etifected withoutdetrimental refluxing.

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While in describing n1 invention 1 have referred to certain speci' 0details it will be understoodihat these are illustrative end notlimiheoive, and the invention is to be re.- gaLrdedas limited only inthe -following claim, in which it is my intention to claim all inherentnovelty asbreadly es theprier art permits.

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What I claim is:

Apparatus for the vacuum distillation be hydro-carbon oils, cemprising astill includsaid receptacle and cooling zone; said vapor messes passage'heing substantially unobst ructed end having e cross-sectional areaadequate topermit free flow of vapors, a jacket arranged about saidpassage, mesins for passing a. heeied fluid through said jacket tomaintain the temperature 0f the vapors, means for supplying a coolingfluid to said cooling Zane, means for preventing reflux to the heatedreceptacle of any substantial amount of condensate formed in saidsealing zone, e drew--05 cenduit for "vapors passing the (sealing zone,and means for exerting suction upon said conduit.

' WARREN n. ELEWZS

